Chapter 434: Chapter 26: Madness

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wu beamed with a smile. Young people are indeed more diligent. “The higher-ups want us to partner up. Actually, I’m from the Knight Order, still managing okay with fighting and killing, but clueless about solving cases. It’s great you’re here and besides you, there’s also a Silver Owl. Both of you are deputy captains, then there are five Copper Owls. Meng Po is a Life Master, good at fortune-telling, but not very accurate. The coroner is Uncle Tuo, he should have retired long ago, sigh, nice guy but not great eyesight. The two Copper Owls responsible for investigation—Snake Skin and Drunkard—they’re out shopping. You can have lunch and dinner here, their skills are decent. Drunkard is great at picking wines, definitely won’t get watered-down stuff. The Curse Master Broken Gong is on leave; he knows a bit about Magic Potion. For most tasks, you can ask Copper Gong for help. We’re all in the same team, coordinate among each other. You can also develop some peripheral members, but as you can see, we’re short on funds. I can apply for status, but not much money.”

Li Xin licked his lips, “The other deputy captain?”

“Haha, Deputy Captain Tang Chendan is like you, a very dynamic and energetic young person. You can exchange more ideas. She is often busy with cases and not at the base. We’re quite free, handle things on your own when it’s calm, work when there’s something, full of democratic freedom.” Jiang Wu said with a laugh.

“Brother Jiang, is there any case I can practice on? Just arrived and eager to get involved.” Li Xin asked.

“Look, that’s the spirit. There’s indeed a tricky case at hand. The complainant is Viscount Li Ku, and you’re from the same family. Might even be related from two hundred years ago. It’d be perfect for you to take over.” Jiang Wu said, “The dossier is neatly organized, in the archive room to the left upon exit. Brother, no pressure, it’s quite relaxing here.”

Jiang Wu checked the time, “I have something to attend to, take your time, no rush. If anything comes up, ask Meng Po, she’s seasoned, knows everything. Oh, don’t ask her for fortune-telling, she charges even colleagues,” then he lowered his voice, “And it’s not accurate either.”

“Who’s Meng Po?”

“The one at the door watching the kid knitting.” Jiang Wu tidied his hair in the mirror, then left happily.

Li Xin walked to the archive room, filled with dossiers. Although worn out, everything was neatly categorized. A single dossier lay on the table; Li Xin sat down to read.

Li Ku, 58, inherited the family’s viscount title. In the Li Long United Kingdom, the Li family is a large clan with many members. Not everyone surnamed Li is related to the Dragon Capital Li family, but Viscount Li Ku is indeed a distant branch. The case concerns his daughter. Viscount Li Ku had a daughter late in life, spoils her heavily. But at her eighteenth birthday, she suddenly displayed demonic behavior, grabbing and biting people, refused to wear clothes, seemingly falling into depravity. Yet investigations revealed no Abyssal Worm parasites.

The Viscount had priests from the Church attempt exorcism, but to little effect. Symptoms during episodes resembled early stages of worm infestation, but it wasn’t. Ultimately, the priests deemed it madness, suggesting medical treatment.

This situation tormented the old Viscount considerably, seeking numerous doctors and even folk remedies to no avail. Finally, it was determined she had been bewitched by some hidden spell, resorting to appeal to the Li family’s ancestral residence.

The case was eventually handed back to the Night Patrol, particularly the proficient “White Dove” within Night Patrol. Respect was due, so the Night Patrol investigated and found it wasn’t a spell, nor was any Hidden Power in the Viscount’s home. It seemed to be mental illness, but the Viscount didn’t accept this result. How could a healthy child go mad suddenly? Always causing turmoil, unable to let it go nor having time to deal with it, White Dove transferred the case to Shadow Owl, marking agreement for handling similar cases among Night Patrol divisions.

Not much was in the dossier, mainly previous Night Patrol findings. Miss Li’s condition was very peculiar; during episodes, her body showed signs of transformation, yet not of Falling. If she wasn’t a Fallen, the Night Patrol typically left it alone, as Night Patrol doesn’t handle healing.

Li Xin read for a while, including some doctors’ diagnoses, suggesting mental issues causing madness; possibly physical frailty leading to some evil intrusion, fundamentally due to one’s own weakness. Prescriptions were for fortification and calm.

Having roughly gone through the dossier, Li Xin headed to the door where Meng Po was leisurely knitting as if the sweater were her whole world. Nearby, a child focused on building blocks, a scene that could be so peaceful in a village from another lifetime.

“Sister Meng, when will Uncle Tuo and Snake Skin be back? I have some things to understand.”

Meng Po lazily raised her head, catching sight of Li Xin’s Silver Owl badge, her face lighting up with a bright smile, “Oh my, eyes like rubies didn’t recognize a precious gem. It’s the deputy captain, young and promising. Our Shadow Owl’s good days are coming.”

“Sister Meng, you flatter me. Just call me Li Xin. I’m new here, still confused. Brother Jiang said to ask you if unclear.” Li Xin said with a smile, not pretentious at all. Away from home, one doesn’t hit a smiling face, and seeing Shadow Owl’s current state, even if wanting to show off, there’s no audience.

Meng Po smiled broadly, yet was inwardly surprised. Despite Shadow Owl’s decline, its level remained prestigious. This place’s people had their issues but had once shined. This youngster became a Silver Owl so young, probably conflicted or crossed someone. Having encountered many, his sincerity seemed authentic, not feigned.

“You called me Sister Meng; I won’t be formal with you. Old Tuo took on a gig, our wages are often delayed, folks need to find ways. Old Tuo is skilled in autopsy work, regularly hired. Snake Skin and Drunkard went shopping, surely back for lunch. Broken Gong, uncertain, maybe hasn’t clocked in, spends days on mystical pursuits. Be cautious, also frequently sells fake medicines, don’t trust.”

Li Xin chuckled, “Thanks for the guidance. What about Tang Silver Owl?”

“Deputy Captain Tang doesn’t come often, she’s high-strung, temper not great,” Meng Po commented, “Li captain, this child’s parents died early, no one to care, us old folks could only bring him to work here. You don’t mind?”

Li Xin looked at the child calmly building blocks, smiled, “No worries. Sister Meng, need advice on a case Brother Jiang gave me, Viscount Li Ku’s. Looks like needing a good doctor. Is it necessary for us to handle?”

Meng Po chuckled, “You mean Viscount Li Ku? Sigh, his affair really shouldn’t call for Night Patrol, but no choice, pressure from above, being of royal kin. Our cases here are either minor trouble or major nuisance. This Li Ku case is amidst those, agitated, insists his daughter was sabotaged, not madness but cursed, demands Night Patrol follow through. Originally White Dove team dealt with it; now handed to us. He runs over complaining daily, hence the quick part from our leader.”

These cases with some background, carrying titles of moderate scale, are indeed notably troublesome.

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